"As you now move forward in your journey and our collective mission, I pray that God will bless you and that you have a long and rewarding career as a Fort Smith firefighter," Richards said.

Blackman, of Fort Smith, said he served as a firefighter with the 188th Fighter Wing before training to become a Fort Smith firefighter. Blackman spent five months in Afghanistan; around the same time, his 16-month-old son, Garrett, was born.

"I always wanted to do something that involved helping people," Blackman said. "I’ve always been interested in doing something like that, and this had just opened up at the perfect time. I thought about it, and thought there was no better way to serve my community than to get on here."

Blackman’s wife, Kelsey, said she’s confident her husband will take care of himself on the job.

"I know he’ll do good," she said. "He’s been in the military, so I’m kind of used to it."

Philpot, of Greenwood, said although his family owns Philpot’s Automotive & Trans on U.S. 71, he’s been working for just more than five years to become a firefighter.

"It’s just something I always wanted to do since I was young and it never really went away. You know, all kids want to be firefighters when they grow up, and it never really went away for me," Philpot said. "I finally got done with school and had the opportunity to kind of branch out and do what I wanted, so we made it happen."

Philpot’s wife, Stephanie, said she is proud of her husband for following his passion.

"I know he can do it," she said.

Davis, of Charleston, said he got the idea to become a firefighter after a couple of buddies encouraged him to take the test.

"He never dreamed of being a firefighter, even as a child," said his mom, Karen Davis. "It’s kind of new."

Davis’ girlfriend, Shawna Guenette, said it was pretty neat to be dating a firefighter.

"He’s always worked offshore, being away, so him being home now is exciting," Guenette said.

Davis said he worked as a certified commercial diver at the Gulf of Mexico, doing pipeline work on oil rigs.

"After I get off my probationary year, I’ll be on the dive team," Davis said. "When we’re working offshore we can’t see anything hardly — it’s pretty much pitch black. The Arkansas River will be a cake."